Apparatus for securing folded portions of packages



Aug. 7, 1934. A, G ROSE 1,969,581

'APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF PACKAGES Filed DeG. 2, 1931 ssheets-sheet 1 1a 50 i; "ai di? Aug. 7, 1934. A. G.

ROSE 1,969,581

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF PACKAGES Filed Deo. 2, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug- 7, 1934. A. G. ROSE 1,969,581

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FOLDED PORTIONS OF P ACKAGES Filed Dec. 2, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Inde/z fr' *20 hesive.

'A35 receive the packages and ,is characterized in that Patented Aug. 7,1934 incassi Y' APPARATUS FOR 'SECURING VFOLDED PORTIONS .OF I ACKAGESAlfred vGerman Rose, Gainsborough, England, assignor to Rose Brothers(Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough, England, a. British companyApplication December 2, 1931, Serial No. 578,554

In Great Britainl December 3, 1930 This invention relates to apparatus,for use in conjunction with a Wrapping or package-form'- ing machine,for receiving and stacking the wrapped articles or packages.

d The invention is applicable tangularA or similar block shaped formwhich comprise articles or groups of articles (e. g. bundles ofcigarettes) enclosed in containers 'of paper, .cardboard or like sheetmaterial having folded portions secured by gum or other adhesive.`

y The main object of this invention is to provide an Iimprovedconstruction of stacking magazine for receiving the packages, pressingtheA overlap# ,ping folds into close contact with each other, withoutdistorting the shape of the package or otherwise damaging it, andrmaintaining said contact until attachment of the folded'porti'on hasbeen accomplished by thedrying of the adj- A 'further object of theinvention isto furnish a magazine in which provision is made for openingand closing one or more of the magazine walls,

thereby to give access to the interior of themaga' posed Walls of themagazine in order to adapt it'l to handle packages of different size.

The invention provides for use in conjunction with a wrapping orpackage-forming machine, 'a tubular stacking magazine which is adaptedto its interior walls, which will contact with overlapping foldedportions of each package, are'Y wholly or in part constituted byportions of the' eripheral surfaces of rotatable rollers. Y In one formthe stacking magazine has aree-`` tangular throughway whereof at leastone wall; over the whole or a substantial portion lof its length, isconstituted by portions ofthe periph' eral surfaces of a series ofrollers which'are' -45- mounted for rotation about parallel arieslocated in one and the same plane, and are so dimensioned and arrangedin relation to the packages to be handled that ,during 'movement of the'latter through the magazine there will be at lea'stone' of theaforesaid series of rollers in contact with the' adjacent edge of eachpackage. .s

According to a feature of the invention the rolli-v ers, or some ofthem, are arranged to'exert aresilient pressure on theedges of thepackages, and vpreferably the rollers constituting at least one topackages of rec-v' wall of themagazine are adjustable asa'whole towardsand away from the opposite magazine Wa11. 7,. A further feature of thevinvention resides having two opposed'walls of the magazine'sohingedlymounted' at their edges that they may be opened'j-andclos'ed like doors,combinedi with manually operable catches for locking the Walls aforesaidin their closed positions. f "An example embodying the foregoing andother features of the 'invention will now 'be describedwith 'referenceto the accompanying drawings in" Which: d `Figure" 1 is a perspectiveview showing thetype of'package-on which the apparatus is adapted tofOperate, d Y l j Figures 2, Band 4 are respectively side,v front', andplane views of the stacking magazine, and 'Figure 5 is'a section showingthe method-'of mounting certain of the magazine rollers.

` Like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout thev drawings. YA Referring toFigure 1, the packages upon which this particularapparatus is arranged tof'operate are-block-shaped as shown, eachcomprising an article such as a bundle of cigarettes ora'cigarette-containing carton, enclosed in a. wrapper which hasbeen-folded aboutv one end l0 and over4 the top and bottom sides of thearticle to form an open-endedpou'ch, 'the' overlapping edge por' tions11 being closed in andrfinally' the projecting portions -12at-theopposite end being closed as' shownl ,.1 f l fx;

Conveniently-the above folding operations' are performed while thearticles are being advanced one at a time'by a horizontalconveyor in alvwrapping machine of the kind described in Uf. S; specification No.1,618,025.v This vspecicationA describes a machine in which the articlesare traversedv by pusli'ers 'on-an endless chain andduring* theirrforward motion are completely wrapped' in paper, the wrappingoperations-being" chiefly effected `by stationary ploughs but a tuck atthe end of' 'each package being made by fingers which' remove-thepackage' from the: conveyor: Dirin'g the ,sequence of thewrapping'operations gum orfother adhesive is applied to the overla`p'ping portions 11, v12 of the wrapper. The pack-v ages arefed one at atime to the lower end of the'. stacking magazine, eachpackage on arrivalat the magazine 'being' supported on a platform 13 which fis given amotion of vertical'reciprocation instep'withthe mechanism (not shown)which feedsth'e articleshorizontally to thev magazineV Duringth'ef'upward movement of the platform 13' the package (indicated at 14 nchain lines in Figure 2) supported on it and those above it are pushedupwardly in the magazine, and during the downward movement of theplatform into a position ready to receive the next package from thehorizontal*conveyor,v the packages in the magazine are' constrainedagainst downward movement by means which will hereinafter bedescribed.If desired theiinal end flaps 12 may be closed while the package issupported on the platform 13 in a manner similar to thatdescribed withreference to Figures 18 and 19 of U.B. specification No. 1,618,025aforesaid, that is to say the top one folded down by the edge ofthemagazine as the package is lifted and thebottom one folded up by areciprocating blade. That is one method of closing the end of thepackage but it does not form any part of the present invention and it isto be understood that any other convenient method of folding the wrappermay be employed;

The stackingma'gazine is of tubular form, the cross section of itsthroughway being of rectangularshape conforming to the planconfiguration o fthepackages to be handled.

, The stacking magazine comprises a fixed end plate 15,two oppositeside,plates 16, 17 pivotally.

mountedanda/.non-pivotally mounted but otherwise adjustableend plate 18.The fixed end plate 15 is provided with a foot piece 19 adapted to bebolted toa bracket or the like (notshown) on the wrapping machine. Thetwo side, plates 16, 17 are secured, in the manner hereinafterdescribed, to brackets 2G, -21 respectively which are pivotallyarticulated to the `liked endV plate 15. For this purpose the end plate15 is provided with lugs 22 carrying pins 23 on which Athe brackets 20,21 are hinged. The opposite end plate 18 is secured to a bracket 24which in turn is fastened to a pillar 25 bolted to the machine frame.

The inner face of the iixed end plate 15 is channelled to accommodate avertical series of rollers 26 which are piled one'on top oi the other,the lowermostone resting upon a shelf 27 located at the foot piece 19.vEach of the rollers 26 is provided at its opposite ends with pins 28which are located in grooves 29 in the end plate 15. The whole length ofthe end plate 15, i. e. throughout theheight of the magazine, isoccupied by the rollers 26, so that the magazine wall with which the end10 of the package will contact during its ascent in the magazine isconstituted by a succession of cylindrical surfaces. As shown in Figure. 2, the diameter of each of the rollers 26 is rather less than thedepth of the package A14, so that during the upward movement of thelatter, there will always be at least one roller in contact with thepackage end.

The opposite end plate 18 also carries a series of rollers, viz. kthoseidentified as 30, arranged in a vertical tier with their axeshorizontal. Theseurollers do not rest one lupon `the other like therollers 26, but are mounted in the manner shown in Figure 5; As willbeseen each of the rollers 30 is rotatable on pins 3l which extend intobearings 32 at opposite ends of the roller and are secured to plungers33 which in turnv are received in channels 34 in the end plate 18. Eachplunger is urged outwardly by a spring 35, and the. extent ofthe outwardmovementof the plungers (i. e. away from 'the plate ,18) is limited byflangev plates A36 securedV to opposite edges' of the end plate andformihgyabutments for lshoulderaon the plungers. With this ari rangementit will be seen that the end plate 18 may be so located that each of therollers exerts a resilient pressure on the end 12 of the package. Asbefore the rollers 30 are so dimensioned and arranged that during theascent of the package at least one of the rollers will always be inContact with the end of the package.

The two pivotally mounted side plates'l, 17 also carry sets of rollers37, 38 arranged in the Ysame way as the rollers 30 of the end plate 18and resiliently mounted on the plates in the manner illustrated inFigure 5. The lowermost rollers of the two sets 37, 38 are located, asshown in Figures 2 and 8, some distance above the lower ends ofthe sideplates 16, 17, and the intervening space is occupied by brushes 39 whichare provided for the purpose of gripping the .opposite side edges of thepackages in the lower portion of the magazine.

In order that the magazine may be adjusted to accommodate packages ofsomewhat different size the following arrangement is adopted.: Two ofthe walls of the magazine, namelythose constituted bythe rollers 30,` 37are made adjust-f.

able towards and away from the opposite walls respectively of themagazine. 'For this purpose each of the vplates 18, 16'isfsupporte'dfrom its companion bracket 24 'or 2G by two pairs of, screw-threadedbolts 4Q located nearthe" upper and lower ends respectively of the plate18 or 16'. The bolts 40, which at their innerends are secured tothe'plate 18 or 16, pass freelyV through apertures 41 in the bracket 24or 2()arfd "at their outer ends are engaged by nutsZy formed withYknurled manipulating heads 4 3. The ,platesV 18, 1 6 are, as shown-inFigure 4, Yspaced apartfror'n the brackets 424, 20, and in thegapbetween "theml the stemsv of the bolts 40 are. springs 44 incompression. lt will be understood that by manipulation of the nuts'42the plates 18, 16 may be adjusted Atowards and awayffrom the companionbrackets 24, V20, and in this way the cross section of themagazinethroughway maybe varied. ,l

It has been pointed out that the brackets 20, 21- which carry the sideplates 16, 17 are pivotally mounted on the iixed. end plate 15.` Thisarrangement is adopted in order that the maga# zine maybe opened andclosed to permit inspection of the packagesl without necessitating theirremoval from the magazine nor'causing any nterruption in their upwardfeed. Eitherone or each of the side plates 16, 17 with, 'of 'course,

the rollers carried by it, may be opened by swinging ,the appropriatebracket 20 orl 211 outwardly about the hinge pin 2 3. In order 'that thetwov sidel plates 16, 17 may be .locked in their `closed position,twomanually operable catch levers v45 are provided.l .These levers arepivotally mounted on a pin 46 secured, to the fixed end plate l5 and attheir outer ends are provided with handle portions 47.y Near their outerends nthe two catch levers are vformed with Ufshaped clips 48 adapte ed(when the catchv levers are :in horizontal position) to be engaged overpins 49 .iixed tov the brackets 20, 21.

It will beseen that when eitherof the ycatch levers 45 is engaged overits corresvpondingr'pin 49, the corresponding side plate 16 or 1 7 islocked against opening movement. On the other hand when the catch leveris Yswung upwardly into a vertical position, the corresponding sidevplate is free to be opened,y like a v door thereby-. giving accesstothe interior ci the magazine.

As shown in Figure 4 .eachV of thethree 16,.v 17 and 18 is formed `atthe backwith alffi recess 50 which is adapted to accommodate a heatingdevice, conveniently one of electrical type. These heating devices areprovided for the purpose of ensuring that during the ascent of eachpackage in the magazine, the adhesive employed for attaching theoverlapping side and end portions 1l, 12 of the wrapper, will becompletely dried.

It will be understood that as the packages are fed upwardly in themagazine by reciprocation of the platform 13, the rollers 30 will exerta resilient pressure on the end folds 12 of the package while therollers 37, 38 will similarly exert a resilient pressure on thelongitudinal folds l1 of the package. In this way the overlapping foldsof the wrapper are maintained in correct register and in close contactwith each other while the packages are moving through the magazine andthe adhesive is setting. During the downward movement of the platform 13it is necessary to ensure that the packages in the magazine will beprevented from gravitating down it, and it is for the purpose ofassisting such action that the brushes 39 are provided. These brushesare arranged to press against the packages with their bristles slopingupwardly so as to offer greater resistance to downward movement of thepackages than to upward movement.

I claim:

l. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine comprising at least twosets of anti-friction rollers mounted within the magazine to constitutetwo opposed internal surfaces thereof, means for inserting packages atthe bottom of the magazine and means for preventing substantial downwardmovement of the packages within the magazine.

2. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine wherein the lower partof the internal surface of at least one of the walls of the magazinecomprises a brush with the bristles directed inwardly and wherein theinternal surfaces of at least two opposing walls above the brushcomprises a plurality of antifriction rollers rotatably mounted to turnabout axes transverse to the throughway of the magazine.

3. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangularcrosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom ofthe magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior wallsof the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers and meansfor supporting thev rollers in each set close to one another with theiraxes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane andtransverse of the throughway of the magazine and with the peripheralsurfaces of the rollers constituting interior surfaces of the magazineabove the brushes.

4. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangularcrosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom ofthe magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior wallsof the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers and meansfor supporting the rollers in each set close to one another with theiraxes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical plane andtransverse of the throughway of the magazine and with the peripheralsurfaces of the rollers constituting interior surfaces of the magazineabove the brushes and a reciprocable pusher movable into the bottom ofthe magazine from outside.

5. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangular crosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom of themagazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior walls ofthe magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollers of lessdiameter than the vertical height of the package to be inserted into themagazine, and means for supporting the rollers in each set close to oneanother with their axes spaced apart by less than the vertical height ofthe package to be inserted into the magazine and extending parallel toone another in the same vertical plane and transverse of the throughwayof the magazine and with the peripheral surfaces of the rollersconstituting interior surfaces of the magazine above the brushes.

6. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine wherein the lower partof the internal surface of at least one of the walls of the magazinecomprises a brush with the bristles directed inwardly and slopingupwardly and wherein the internal surfaces of at least two opposingwalls above the brush comprise a plurality of anti-friction rollersrotatably mounted to turn about axes transverse to the throughway of themagazine.

'7. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine comprising at least twosets of anti-friction rollers mounted within the magazine to constitutetwo opposed internal surfaces thereof, means for inserting packages atthe bottom of the magazine and means for preventing substantial downwardmovement of the packages within the magazine and means for heating themagazine.

8. For use in conjunction with a wrapping or package forming machine, asubstantially vertical tubular stacking magazine of rectangularcrosssection comprising two sets of brushes located near the bottom ofthe magazine with their bristles forming parts of opposed interior wallsof the magazine, a plurality of sets of anti-friction rollersconstituting at least two opposed walls of the magazine above thebrushes and mounted on plates, with a recess in at least one plate, withtheir axes extending parallel to one another in the same vertical planeand transverse of the throughway of the magazine and heating meanslocated in the recessed plate.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE.

